Robotics & Automation News

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Humanoids

Neura Robotics secures €120 million in funding to commercialize humanoids

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Neura Robotics, a cognitive robotics pioneer and thought to be “the only humanoid robotics company in Germany”, has raised €120 million in a Series B funding round.

This substantial investment underscores Neura Robotics’ key role in cognitive robotics, showing how it is uniquely positioned to lead the European robotics industry and become a major force in the global robotics landscape, alongside strong players in the US and China.

The round was led by Lingotto Investment Management, with participation from BlueCrest Capital Management, Volvo Cars Tech Fund, InterAlpen Partners, Vsquared Ventures, HV Capital, Delta Electronics, C4 Ventures, L-Bank, founder David Reger, and others. [Read more…] about Neura Robotics secures €120 million in funding to commercialize humanoids

OpenAI reportedly preparing to build humanoid robots

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OpenAI is reportedly rekindling its interest in robotics, with a particular focus on developing humanoid robots. Recent job postings indicate the company is seeking professionals experienced in robotics hardware and software, suggesting plans to reestablish its robotics division.

This marks a significant shift from 2020, when OpenAI disbanded its robotics team due to challenges in data scarcity and the complexities of physical interactions. At that time, the company redirected its efforts toward AI models like ChatGPT, which could be trained on abundant text and image data.

In the interim, OpenAI has actively invested in robotics startups. Notably, it participated in a $675 million funding round for Figure AI, a company developing general-purpose humanoid robots designed to perform tasks in logistics and warehousing. Figure’s latest model, Figure 02, integrates OpenAI’s AI models to process voice commands, enhancing its operational capabilities. [Read more…] about OpenAI reportedly preparing to build humanoid robots

Enchanted Tools unveils ‘advanced AI and design enhancements’ for character robots at CES

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Enchanted Tools has brought its character robots, the Mirokaï, back to CES with several “exciting upgrades” to make them even better suited to provide companionship and logistical support.

Now with advanced artificial intelligence, including large language model (LLM) integration, and improved navigation and safety features, the robots are being deployed in retail and hospitals to move objects, provide information, and offer support to customers and patients.

Powered by Nvidia Jetson chips, the Mirokaï combine modern engineering with charming, mammal-like animation, ushering in a new wave of humanoid robots. [Read more…] about Enchanted Tools unveils ‘advanced AI and design enhancements’ for character robots at CES

EngineAI debuts its ‘revolutionary robotics lineup’ at CES

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EngineAI Robotics, an innovator in humanoid robots, is making its debut at the ongoing CES 2025, showcasing its humanoid robots: the SE01, SA01, and PM01.

These robots offer a versatile foundation for developers to enhance their interaction with the physical environment. The SA01 and PM01, in particular, serve as open-source platforms for further development, providing a basis for advancements in embodied intelligence.

Zhao Tongyang, the founder and CEO of EngineAI, highlighted the company’s vision to develop world-leading general-purpose humanoid robots while continuously accelerating innovation in the embodied intelligence revolution. [Read more…] about EngineAI debuts its ‘revolutionary robotics lineup’ at CES

Spare humans: Top 10 humanoids and androids from sci-fi films

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Humanoid robots have been central characters in many movies from the very beginning of the film industry, and have regularly featured prominently throughout this time. And they have never – or at least rarely – failed to kindle a certain kind of feeling that combines fascination with a slightly unsettling sense of fear.

Now it seems there will be an increase in the number of films featuring human-like robots. Two major films in two years – Subservience, starring Megan Fox, last year, and Companion, starring Sophie Thatcher, this year – might not represent a deluge, but we think this is a sign of things to come.

What I mean is that I believe there will be many more films featuring humanoid robots and androids from now on, mainly because we as a society are increasingly having to deal with artificial intelligence which lives inside computers but communicates with us all the time, as well as actual AI machines in the our three-dimensional physical world that move and talk and walk and drive us around – often referred to as “embodied artificial intelligence”. [Read more…] about Spare humans: Top 10 humanoids and androids from sci-fi films

Apple’s humanoid robot project: What do we know?

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Apple, the 3.7 trillion-dollar iPhone, iPad and Macintosh gigantico, is reportedly working with numerous companies and organisations in an effort to develop a humanoid robot – codenamed “Armor”.

According to Digitimes, Apple’s “entry into the humanoid robotics market is gaining momentum”. Meanwhile, PatentlyApple.com reports that Apple is working with Carnegie Mellon University and that Apple’s “new robot known as ‘ARMOR’, has been reveal” (sic).

Bloomberg, one of the world’s most authoritative financial news sources, says Apple is “in the early stages of figuring out the best way to use robotics”, and is already pushing ahead with a “tabletop robot”, the development of which is being overseen by the same person or people who were in charge of the much-heralded but never-realised Apple car. [Read more…] about Apple’s humanoid robot project: What do we know?

Foxconn and Nvidia agree partnership to develop humanoid robots

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In a significant move that could reshape the entire robotics industry going forward, Taiwanese contract manufacturer Hon Hai Precision, better known as Foxconn, has agreed a strategic partnership with the world’s largest computer chip maker, Nvidia, to develop advanced humanoid robots.

This is according to a report on a Taiwanese news website, which appears to have got the information from Foxconn’s head honcho, the Hon Hai chairman himself, Young Liu.

This collaboration aims to combine Foxconn’s extensive manufacturing expertise and Nvidia’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to create robots capable of performing complex tasks across various industries. [Read more…] about Foxconn and Nvidia agree partnership to develop humanoid robots

Humanoid startup WorkFar Robotics plans to grow through ‘strategic acquisitions’

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WorkFar Robotics, a developer of humanoid and collaborative robotics, is teaming up with industry magnates to “spark the proliferation of humanoid robotic technology across the world” – in other words, to grow through acquisitions.

To WorkFar, leveraging external growth through mergers and acquisitions is a key step in the realization of this vision.

The goal of most startups is to be acquired by a larger conglomerate. However, WorkFar isn’t your average robotics startup. In fact, the company has been able to put together a market-ready, mass-produceable product even without receiving venture capital which is unheard of in humanoids.

So perhaps it’s expected that WorkFar would avoid following the well-trodden path, instead turning this path on its head so that the startup is the one to acquire other companies, instead of being acquired itself. [Read more…] about Humanoid startup WorkFar Robotics plans to grow through ‘strategic acquisitions’

Humanoid era: List of all the most prominent companies building humanoid robots

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2024 may be remembered as the year humanoid robots proliferated to the point where there can be no question that they will – whether we like it or not – become part of our lives in the not-too-distant future.

While they may still have technical limitations even today, many of the previous obstacles have now been smoothed out.

Such is the interest now in humanoid robots, Honda may even bring Asimo out of its locker or wherever it has been kept past few years. [Read more…] about Humanoid era: List of all the most prominent companies building humanoid robots